Dispatching an animal caught in a cage trap?

[hardkorrhunter]

Got a few questions for you boys it may be a touchy subject for some so if you wish just pm any response you may have if your conserned.Question #1 can you dispatch a trapped animal with an air rifle. i know in the regs it says  that you can not hunt any game animals with an air rifle but once it is trapped its not really hunting is it. Question two can some one please pm me with some good pics as how to build some walk throughs or swim throughs i have built 6 guliteen style traps, three weasel box traps with the rat trap inside and four colony rat traps and have yet to catch anything. which leads to question three what is a good comercial bait for bobcat i know a beaver shoulder is by far the best but if i had buy something what would you choos. I had two cage traps that were getting trip every day by something small that kept steeling my bait (hearing) which lead to the weasel traps that produced no relief to the little thief inturn he one i pulled those sets. I did have something get into one of my colony rat traps but flipped it over and got out which leads to Qestion four, do you guys lay something over them to weigh them down. Thank you for any help im just getting started so i havent go my hopes up to much but it would be great to get some sort of good results. Thanks again, Jessie Korr

[bobcat]

I don't know if air rifles would be legal or not, but I would suggest a 22 rifle with CB's.

They are real quiet, probably quiter than an air rifle, and a lot more punch.

[Humptulips]

Yes, an air rifle is legal, not sure how effective though. The laws are different then hunting. Once you have an animal is in a trap it is considered to be in your posession and you can use whatever to dispatch it. I would have to second the 22 though.
In the forum somewhere there are pics I took of my swimthroughs. All I can say is to do your best using them as a pattern. Ask some questions and I'll do my best to answer.

Best bait you can buy would need to be cheap. That pretty well leaves out the butcher shop but if you could find just about anything you yourself would eat if it was fresh I'd say that would be good. Chicken farms about, ask for their dead ones, save your game scraps. After hunting season I have picked up what others have tossed.

Things that steal your bait: weasels yes but more likely civets and they won't get caught in a weasel trap. You will need a small cage trap with a tight door. They can squeeze out around the door if it is not tight.

[Hawgdawg]

Hetler them in a gas chamber. They fall a sleep and no holes! Garbage sack, hose and don't use a diesel truck. gasoline burning only.  great for skunks, no smell and also tree hugger approved.

[hardkorrhunter]

lol good one hawgdawg and thanks bruce as far as the 22 thats not an option for me but the air rifle i have shoots 1200 fps with a .177 caliber pellet and at 20yds was punching clean through a half inch sheet of plywood

[Humptulips]

I couldn't find the pictures either. here they are:

[hardkorrhunter]

wow great pics bruce thanks.

[huntingfool7]

great pics, lots of good design info there.  Where do you buy the parts (conibear) at?

[pnwmtnmn]

Most of the trapping supply place have a trap parts list, order in the dog and trigger.

[Humptulips]

This is where I order from, online catalogue  http://www.minntrapprod.com/
Coni dog, trigger and springs. I replace the wires in the trigger with 1/8" cold rolled round stock. The upper stop for the spring ends is a link of chain. The c rings for attaching the cage wire are from:  http://klubertanz.com/

[Heredoggydoggy]

Another good outfit to order from is the Fur Harvester's Trading Post www.fntpost.com for everything trapping, predator hunting, hound hunting, calling, etc.  I don't do much trapping (except for feral cats), but they have a good selection of parts in their catalog. 

[huntingfool7]

Thanks, I built a couple box traps for ferals out of wood.  I used a modified rat trap on a trip wire to trigger the door.  It works but the trip wire can be sensitive.  Your's looks a lot more efficient and quicker to set.

OP, you're air gun would work.  I've dispatched a few opossum with mine.  CB caps are good also.  If I remember right, they launch a 32 grain slug at 600 fps and are really quiet out of a rifle.  I've dispatched a few critters with those also.  If you want to try the CB's I could kick a few of them your way to to try them out. 

[hardkorrhunter]

What are cb's?

[hardkorrhunter]

What is the length of these swim throughs.

[huntingfool7]

What are cb's?

CB's are a light loaded 22 round.  CB stands for conical bullet and it's the big, little bros. to 22 bb caps.  Which are a round ball loaded in a 22 round. 

They are made in either shorts or longs.  Either way the velocity is the same.